The hotel group will be using its NYX Hotels lifestyle brand to send out a visible signal that diversity, respect and openness are embraced within the everyday work routine
Berlin, 23 July 2026. A new face will be in evidence at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) celebrations in Berlin this Saturday, when hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate for acceptance and equality. Employees of Leonardo Hotels will be represented for the first time in the form of a contingent which will join in under the NYX Hotels brand flag. Around 30 employees from various hotels and divisions of the group will set out on foot as group number 30 to send out a visible signal of a corporate culture in which openness, respect and individuality are part of everyday work.
NYX Hotels as an ambassador for diversity and self-expression
The decision to appear under the NYX Hotels brand was a conscious one. NYX Hotels stand for individuality, art, urban lifestyle and the freedom to seek self-fulfilment. The participants will be sure to stand out amongst the garish colours of CSD thanks to special T-shirts which they have designed themselves. These garments feature a QR code which will enable anyone interested to access important information, including contact details for free clinics, counselling hotlines and educational initiatives relating to sexual health and consensual relationships.
“Our participation is an expression of our solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and of our active commitment to creating protected spaces in our hotels," said Torsten Kraft, Diversity Officer at Leonardo Hotels Central Europe. “Our hotels are places where everyone should feel safe and welcome, completely regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This applies to our guests as well as to our staff.” In order to enable employees from across Germany to participate, Leonardo Hotels Central Europe is assisting all those travelling to the event by offering a 50 percent discount on overnight stays in the group’s Berlin hotels.
Involvement with a local focus – partnership in Köpenick
A new initiative in the south-east of Berlin demonstrates just how serious the hotel group is about providing permanent support. The NYX Hotel Köpenick is currently preparing a long-term partnership with a queer organisation in the district. This is only the prelude to a model that is set to be extended to other hotel locations in the future. “It is important to us that a single action becomes a real and lasting commitment,” Mr. Kraft continued. “The CSD is a visible moment, but the actual work often happens on a small scale and at a local level.”
Diversity as daily practice instead of a one-off campaign element
CSD is a significant highlight for Leonardo Hotels Central Europe. But the relevant foundations are laid during the remaining days of the year. Diversity is ingrained within the Leonardo Group, which has employees from more than 100 different nations. As a signatory to the Diversity Charter, the company is fully committed to equal opportunities and to a corporate culture which is free from prejudice.
Within the everyday context, this attitude is expressed via flexible working time models to suit a wide range of life pathways, via the integration of skilled workers from abroad and via close cooperation with integrative workshops for people with disabilities. Regular structured training on diversity topics and mental health raises team awareness of mutually respectful collaboration on an ongoing basis.
“Diversity is not a mere trend for us. Neither is it a project with an end date,” Torsten Kraft stressed. “Our difference is our greatest strength. We will show this attitude on the street at CSD, and we live it every day in our hotel routines.”